UTEP Miners defense adjusts to new 4-3

EL PASO -- For the better part of four seasons, UTEP's biggest question mark has been its defense and one of the bigger question marks on that biggest question mark has been the defensive line.

The Miner defenders have perennially been undersized with many young pieces. Additionally, this year will mark UTEP's third defensive coordinator and third position coach running a third different scheme in four years.

The one attribute they have is confidence that 2010 will be different.

"We don't have to be huge," said new coordinator Andre Patterson, who doubles as the line coach. "This is more about technique and toughness more than being 330, 325 pounds."

Leading the way are ends Robert Soleyjacks and Bernard Obi, the most experienced players on a unit that otherwise is young. Soleyjacks is a two-year starter while Obi, a junior, has been part of the rotation since his true freshman year.

Flanking tackles who are talented but young and inexperienced, they know they have to be good.

"We're the more experienced guys coming back, the younger guys are looking up to us for leadership," Soleyjacks said. "Being here for four years, going through all the experiences, we have a lot of knowledge to share. I like how we're coming along."

"I definitely feel old," Obi joked. "I feel it in my knees. I've been playing since my freshman year and I need to take the lead out here."

The defense and linebacker corps feel the biggest brunt of the new defense brought in by Patterson.

Advertisement

UTEP is going from a three-man front to a traditional four-man look where the line will try to tie up offensive linemen to let linebackers run free.

"It's a lot more you being responsible for an assignment," Soleyjacks said. "The guys are embracing the defense. Everybody is excited about it."

Obi said it is an adjustment.

"It's more of gap-control, then attack the ball," Obi said. "We're picking it up really well, really quickly. The coaches are doing a great job of teaching it to us."

While Obi and Soleyjacks will feel the pressure of leadership, the tackles will feel the pressure of getting up to game speed, as they collectively haven't seen many live snaps.

Sophomore Ruben Muñoz, from Eastwood, and freshman Germard Reed were running with the first team at practice this week, though nothing much has been set. Sophomore Isaac Tauaefa and junior college transfer Jamie Fehoko are other players competing for time in what could be a large group that sees the field this season. None of those four are bigger than 290 pounds.

"This defense is a better fit for all of us," Fehoko said.

"We're young inside," Patterson said. "They are working hard and getting better. They are tough guys."

Coach Mike Price is excited about the potential all over the line.

"We're going to be helped by the defensive switch," he said. "It's different than last year but we're going to be OK that way. The guys are playing well."

Improvement throughout the defense will have to start up front, where UTEP is partly starting over. The Miners hope that is a good thing.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359